The principles of FM synthesis are as follows:
1. Buy the FM synth of your choice.
2. Go through the presets marvelling at the brilliance of 'Solid Bass' and 'Pluck Bass'
3. Think to yourself 'hang on, i recognise all these sounds from Leftism'
4. Attempt to do some programming and make a selection of wierd fizzy clanking grind sounds that you will never use.
5. Attempt to actually understand the principles of FM synthesis, it is very important at this stage that you avoid your brain dribbling out of your ears.
6. Give up, use 'Solid Bass' on a couple of tunes then leave the thing to gather dust for a couple of years
7. Sell it